Dog Bites

Prevention Tips

• Have the dog spayed or neutered. Studies show dogs are three times more likely to bite if they are not neutered.
• Socialize your dog so that it knows how to act around other people and animals.
• Discourage children from disturbing a dog that is eating or sleeping.
• Play non-aggressive games with dogs such as "go fetch." Games like "tug-of- war" can encourage inappropriate behavior.
• Never approach a strange dog and always avoid eye contact with a dog that appears threatening.

Key Facts

• Most insurance companies insure homeowners/renters with dogs. Some companies exclude certain breeds from coverage while many focus on the individual dog's behavior.
• If a dog bites someone, most insurers recognize it as an increased risk and may charge you a higher premium, suggest the homeowner find the dog a new home, non-renew the policy or exclude the dog from coverage.
• Dogs left alone are more likely to become territorial and pose a higher risk of biting someone. More than 50 percent of dog bites occur on the dog owner's property.
• Since the late 1990s, nearly 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs annually, resulting in an estimated 800,000 injuries.
• Dog bites cost insurers $356.2 million in 2007, up 10.5 percent from the previous year.
• The average cost of dog bite claims increased by 11.5 percent to $24,511 during the same period.
• The number of claims paid by insurers has remained relatively stable over the past three years at 14,295 in 2005, 14,661 in 2006 and 14,531 in 2007. Liability claims, including dog bite claims, accounted for about 5 percent of all homeowners insurance losses in 2006.
• Homeowners and renters insurance policies typically cover dog bite liability. Most policies provide $100,000 to $300,000 in liability coverage. If the claim exceeds the limit of the policy, the dog owner is responsible for all damages above that amount, including legal expenses.
• Children are more than three-times as likely to require medical treatment, comprising 60 percent of all dog bite victims. Most bites are from pets or familiar dogs, not strays.
• With over 50 percent of the bites occurring on the dog owner's property, the issue is a major source of concern for insurers.
• The Consumer Product Safety Commission says that dog bites rank second behind baseball and softball injuries as the leading cause for emergency room visits.
• On average, 18 people die each year from dog bites/attacks.
• Over the past 10 years, there has been a shift in breeds owned. Rottweiler has risen from 15th to the second-most popular dog to own, according to the American Kennel Club.
  
  

Other Resources
Insurance Information Institute
National Center for Injury and Control
American Kennel Club